Spring brings warm weather, green grass, and the sound of kids playing outside.  Along with the warmer weather comes the return of hundreds of species of migrating birds.  This annual spring migration is a perfect time to do some bird watching with the family.   Not only will you learn a bit about the birds that live in your area, you may also find a new family past time!

A fun way to get the whole family involved is to turn bird watching into a game.  Our Kids Bird Watching Spring Scavenger Hunt is the perfect way to do just that.  Simply download and print our list, and see how many things you can find.

For an added challenge, try to identify the name of the birds you see.  The National Audubon Society has a free online bird watcher’s tool that will make it easy for you to identify the birds you see by their colors, size, and even the sounds they make.   For instant help in identifying the birds you see while you are outside, use a bird watcher’s field guide.  At JM Cremps, we carry the gold standard of bird watching books – the Peterson Field Guides.  The Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America is for bird watchers who live in the eastern half of the US.  The Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Western North America is for western bird watchers.  For the younger kids, the North American Birds Sticker Book is a fun and exciting way to keep young bird watchers engaged while they are learning.

Bird Watcher’s Spring Scavenger Hunt

Take this list outside and see how many of the “bird” items on this list you can find.  You’ll have to look high, look low, and listen closely!

_______ Bird tracks (hint:  look in muddy areas)

_______ 1 bird nest

_______ 1 bird feather

_______ 1 brown bird

_______ A bird that is flying

_______ A bird that is perched in a tree

_______ A bird that is singing

_______ A bird that is building a nest

_______ A bird that is carrying something in its beak

_______ A bird that is swimming

_______ A bird with yellow on it

_______ A bird that is screeching or calling

_______ A bird with blue on it

_______ A bird with white on it

_______ A large bird

_______ A small bird

_______ A hummingbird